Education

Designed for medical school graduates, what makes our Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgical Program curriculum unique is its streamlined three-part, six-year track, designed to reduce the years of training required to become a cardiovascular specialist while focusing training to the most crucial areas of the field.

Our residency program limits work hours to 80 per week and emphasizes work-life balance moreso than many competing programs.

The activities of the Department are centered in the Falk Cardiovascular Research Building at Stanford, a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility for the academic offices and research laboratories of the Department. The clinical activities are centered at the Stanford University Hospital, the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, and the nearby Palo Alto Veterans Administration Medical Center, with certain rotations at affiliated hospitals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey County. Many rotations emphasize cutting edge technology, such as minimally invasive techniques, simulator practice, and robotic surgery.

Stanford has a history of excellence in all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery, including a series of pioneering "firsts," such as the first heart transplant in the US, the first heart/lung transplant in the world, and one of the first left ventricular assist device (LVAD) procedures in the world. Its programs are particularly noted for work in thoracic organ transplantation and treatment of valvular, aneurysm, congenital, and ischemic heart disease, and pulmonary and mediastinal tumors.

Previous Stanford trainees occupy a number of leadership positions throughout academic cardiothoracic surgery in the United States and abroad.

Distinguished Trainees:

• 1986 – William H. Frist, former United States Senator, Tennessee
• 1986 – Vaughn A. Starnes, Chairman, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Southern California
• 1983 – John C. Baldwin, Dean, Dartmouth University School of Medicine
• 1982 – R. Scott Mitchell, Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine
• 1981 – John Wallwork, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cambridge University School of Medicine
• 1980 – Stuart W. Jamieson, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine
• 1979 – Donald C. Watson, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Tennessee School of Medicine
• 1978 – William A. Baumgartner, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• 1977 – D. Craig Miller, Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine
• 1976 – Bruce A. Reitz, Chairman, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine
• 1975 – Jack G. Copeland, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Arizona School of Medicine
• 1974 – Philip E. Oyer, Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine
• 1972 – Randall B. Griepp, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• 1971 – Lawrence H. Cohn, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University School of Medicine
• 1970 - Thomas J. Fogarty, Professor, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine
• 1968 - Edward B. Stinson, Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Director, Cardiac Transplantation, Stanford University School of Medicine
• 1961 - Richard R. Lower, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical College of Virginia

Stanford West is a 628-unit residential, on-campus community of apartments and townhomes. It is University-owned and is located on the northwest side of the Stanford campus, adjacent to the San Francisquito Creek and trail. Virtually everything you need for daily living is easily accessible by bike, on foot, or on the Stanford Marguerite Shuttle. Each apartment has a one-car garage, washer-dryer, and (for a fee) direct connection to SUNet, Stanford's computer network. A beautiful community center includes a lounge, pool, fitness center, and business center.

No description of our program would be complete without emphasizing Stanford University’s prime location within the San Francisco Bay Area, an area rich in natural beauty, culture, and entertainment. Stanford’s agreeable climate makes for pleasant seasons year-round, and various nearby microclimates mean you’re never far from just about any recreational activity imaginable. From sunbathing to skiing, the Bay Area can accommodate.

Stanford campus is located:

• adjacent to downtown Palo Alto, popular for its restaurants, shopping, and specialty theatres.
• 35 miles south of San Francisco and 20 miles north of San Jose in the heart of Northern California’s dynamic "Silicon Valley."
• 30 minutes east of beaches and the Pacific Ocean as well as the Santa Cruz Mountains.
• 1.5 hours south of the famed Napa Valley wine country.
• 4 hours from Lake Tahoe and excellent ski resorts.

Local professional sports teams:

• Hockey - San Jose Sharks
• Basketball - Golden State Warriors
• Baseball - San Francisco Giants, Oakland As
• Football - San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders
• Soccer – San Jose Earthquakes

Or watch sports on campus: Stanford Athletics

Or participate in recreational sports on campus: Stanford Athletics Physical Education, Recreation and Wellness. Our campus is also home to the Stanford University Golf Course, which is consistently rated one of the finest courses in the world.

For more information about what attracts so many people to Stanford and the Bay Area, visit Stanford University Visitor’s Information.